Air cleaner



J. C. EVANS Aug. 8, 1939.

AIR CLEANER Filed March 2, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. C 54225ATTORNEY.

engines.

Patented Aug. 8, 1 939 igan Application March 2; 1936, Serial No. 66,525

v I 2,168,670, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i I a cac'w I I mesneassignments, to King-.Seelcy Oorporation, Ann Arbor,'Mich., acorporatlonof lllich- 7: Claims. (01. 183-15) This invention relates to an" aircleaner, and particularly to an air cleaner of the sc-called oil bathtype for use with internal combustion The invention is directedparticularly to a cleaner of the type which has an outlet extendingdownwardly therefrom which "adapts the cleaner for association with theso-called down draft carburetor,'although the outlet tube may be takenfrom the top of the ,cleaner. The

cleaner comprises a sump for a cleansingliquid which is caught up by themoving air and separated threfrom; together with extraneous matter suchas dirt and dust, by a filtering element. In the passenger automobile oftoday; the space under the hood where the engine is located is at apremium, so that-the size of the air cleaner is an important factor.However, in this type-of cleaner, if the same is made too small thevolume of the filtering element will not be large enough to catchtheoil, with the result that some oil may travel through the filter andon engine.

The present invention aims to provide a cleaner which can be made onrelatively small proportions and yet one in which this undesirableaction will notoccur. A further object of the invention is to provide/acleaner so constructed that the cleaning liquid or oil is caught up byair, even to the though the engine is operating at low or idling speedsandthe air velocity'is low. Thus the air is efliciently washed evenat-low engine speeds. Also, in conjunction with-"this, it is an aim ofthe invention to provide a cleaner wherein there will be no chokingaction on the engine and no oil gurgling. noises at low engine speeds. Afurther object of the invention-is to provide a cleaner ofsimplified'constriiction embodying a minimum number of parts. 3

Fig. l is a: vertical cross-sectional view taken through a cleanerconstructedin accordance with the invention. 2 is an elevational view ofthe cleaner .of reduced size.

Fig.-3 is a detail viewpartly in section showing detailed structure. 4

Fig. 4 is a view showing the circular form of the cleaner --partly insection and with parts broken away showing certain structural features.

5 11 Fig. 5 is, a view looking into the lower casing member of thecleaner and showing the structure of a plate member.

I A 'downwardlyfextending air inlet tube of a carburetor is shown at I.The cleaner comprises; 55 a casing advantageously of circular form inhorizontal section, the same being illustrated generally at 2,- having acircumferential side wall 3 and abottom 4. Through the bottom extends anoutlet tube 5, the lower end of which may be so: slotted as at 6 andarranged to be fitted over the top of and contracted upon the tube I byaclanipi I. The outlet pipe may have an internally extending head 8against 'which may rest a retain-' ing ring 9 L,-sha'ped'in crosssection, which holds a gasket III for sealing against the top of thepipe 1. The bottom 4 is flanged and welded to the outlet tube 5 as atll. The top of the tube 5 may have a flange l2. A yoke l3 has armssuitably attached to the pipe 5 as by means of a weld,.

as shown at l4, and this yoke carries a screw threaded stud l5 forreceiving a winged nut I6.

The upper casing member comprises a top plate and a member dependingtherefromhaving a circumferential wall 2|, the upper end of which isflared outwardly, with the top plate and member 2| connected as at 22.This pro-; vides an annular air inlet 23 and an annular inlet passage24. The lowermost end'of the de-' pending member is provided with ascalloped formation presenting alternating ridges and furrows 25 and 2t.The member has a lower portion of spider formation, the same being cutout to provide bridging members ofarms 2Lex-;

I sleeve 3i, as at 35. The extreme inner end is fashioned with a ledge36 and depending part 31 for retaining a gasket 39 adapted to seat uponthe flange l2. A filtering bodylllis carried by the" upper member andthis filtering body presents a mass with a multiplicity of interstices,as for'example steel wool or the'like; Preferably this mass isconstitued; by helical'windlngs of irregularly shaped or corrugated wireor strip. Whenfashioned'from such material the arms -21 and 32 amplysupport the same; as thewire or strip windings are capable ofbridging-the. reinti-vely wide openings and the openings ll betweenth''arms 32.

"A plate member-generally indicated at 42 fits in the s mp portionof thelower casing member for which purpose the'outer peripheral edge maybe""fashiohed with a flange- 43, the plate memg ber having a horizontalportion spaced above the bottom 4, and a'wall portion 44. risingtherefrom andmaking substantial contact with the'underside ot the filteror legs 21. From the top ofthe wall the plate has an inwardly extendingpart 45 which preferably extendsinwardly and downwardly, and the platehas a central aperture 46 surrounding the tube 5 but of a largerdiameter.

This plate divides the body of oil into a body thereabove which is inthe path of air flow, and

7 in the space between the parts 44 and 45 as will presently appear. Inthe'lower scalloped portion of the upper member, a number of apertures50 are provided, preferably located in the portions 25. The metalextends inwardly from the sealloped portions to the arms 21 for strengthpurposes, as will be seen in Figs. 1 and 4. Oil may therefore collect inthe channel at and just above the scalloped formation. This oil maydrain back into the air passageway through the apertures 50.

The operation is as follows: The sump is to be filled with oil to thelevel substantially as indicated on Fig. 1, the oil sealing against theridges 25 but leaving open passageways at the location of the furrows26. When the engine creates a depression in the tube 5 air is drawn inthrough the passageway 24 and downwardly toward the oil sump. Atmoderate or high speeds the air is moving at such velocity as to whipthe oil in the passageway above the plate 42, entrap some of the sameand carry it into the filtering element. The plate 42 with its wall 44defines the air passageway. The air moves downwardly then upwardly intothe filter, as shown by the arrows. Thus dust and-dirt become wet withoil and the air cleansed thereby. The air velocity decreases in thefiltering element, the oil is caught and entrapped therein with theclean air passing through the apertures 4|, and thence into the outletpipe. The member 44 defines a quiescent zone leading back to the sumpand to the oilundemeath the plate 42. Thus the oil may flow, asindicated, over the portion 45 of the plate and back into the sump. Asthe oil is whipped out of the passageway over the plate 42, the level ofthe oil in the quiescent zone is raised; and due to the vent holes 48,the-level of the oil may raise in the space between the wall 44 and part45.

This increased head causes oil to move upwardly through the openings 41into the air passageway. In this manner the oil has a completecirculation, and the sedimentis largely deposited in the bottom of thesump 4. No 011 istrapped in the filter, as all may flow therefromthrough the apertures SI opposite the quiescent zone. 1

The scalloped formation is designed to facilitate the cleansing of theair and efiicient engine operation at lowengine speeds or idling speed.

At low speeds the rate of travel. of the air maymot be sufiicient tobreak the oil seal permanently, where, for example, there isa completeseal 01' the air pway. This results in a choking action on the engineand an intermediate breaking of the seal, and a gurgling noise maybecome audible. However, with the apertures 6| always openthe ail-isdirected therethrough in streams, with suilicient velocity to pick upand atomize some of the oil and cm it upwardly into the filteringelement; .01? course, at high speeds the seal-is well broken and most ofthe oil above the d plateflhasbeen displacemwith aresultant increase ofhead in the quiacent zone.

As'above mentioned, space is at a premium in I many cases, and onedangerin making air cleanersorsmalldimensionisthsttheoilwillbc carried throughthe filter and on into the engine. To meet this situation, the partitionof member 44 has been positioned to restrict the air flow channel and torestrict the area of the filter into which air carries the Miami toincreasethe quiescent zone. In other words, the rising member 44 is, inthe present form, positioned so as to provide a generous quiescent zoneor space between the tube 5 and the rising member 44. Thus, even thougha large quantity of oil is in circulation and much oil enters thefilter, yet this oil easily escapes from the air stream, due to thelarge quiescent zone, and flows back into the sump; therefore, theheight and size of the filtering element may be reduced, and yet oilwill not be drawn therethrough into the engine.

It will be noted that the member 45 extends inwardly and projects intothe oil. This more or less seals off the quiescent zone so as to preventair moving through the passageway 24 from passing through the apertures41, thence through the quiescent zone into the filtering element.

The term oil has been used herein when reference was made to thecleansing liquid. Oil is ordinarily employed for this purpose, thoughother liquids may be used which may not technically be oil, and thisterm is intended to cover the same.

I claim:

1. An air cleaner comprising, a lower casing member adapted to receive aquantity of oil with its lower portion constituting an oil sump, anupper casing member carrying a filtering body telescoped into the lowercasing member in spaced relation to form an annular air inlet for thepassage of air downwardly toward the sump and for the passage of airupwardly through the filtering medium, air outlet means connecting intothe upper casing member above the filtering body, the filtering mediumbeing above the oil level in the sump, and a.plate member having alaterally extending portion below the normal oil level and a risingwall'portion extending upwardly and in substantial contact with thefiltering medium to define an air passageway on one side and a quiescentzone on the other, said plate having an extending part projectingsubstantially from the top of the rising wall portion in a directiontraversing the quiescent zone, with the free edge thereof projectingbelow the normal oil level, said plate having.

apertures therein for the fiow of oil from the lower portion of the sumpinto the air passageway.

2..An air cleaner comprising, a lower casing member having an outlettube extending through its bottom and adapted to receive a quantity ofoil with its lower portion constituting an oil sump, an upper casingmember carrying a filtering body telescoped into the lower casing memberin spaced relation to form an annular air inlet for the passage of airdownwardly toward the sump and for the passage of air upwardly throughthe filtering medium, the upper casing member being in connection in itsupper portion with the outlet tube, the filtering medium being above theoil level in the sump,

and a plate surrounding the outlet tube having an outer laterallyextending portion submerged in the oil and an intermediate upwardlyrising wall portion, the upper end of which makes substantial contactwith the lower partof the filter,

wardly thereof, the inner portion of said plate extending angularlyinwardly and downwardly and terminating in an edge surrounding theoutlet tube, and spaced therefrom, the laterally extending portion ofsaid plate having apertures therein for the flow of oil from the lowerportion of the sump into the air passageway.

3. An air cleaner comprising, a lower casing I member having an outlettube extending through the outlet tube, the filtering medium being abovethe oil level in the sump, and a plate surrounding the outlet tubehaving an outer laterally extending portion submerged in the oil and anintermediate upwardly rising wall portion, the upper end of which makessubstantial contact with 4 the lower partof the filter, the said portionand rising wall defining an air passageway to the illtering body and therising wall portion defining a quiescent zone inwardly thereof, theinner portion of said plate extending angularly inwardly and downwardlyand terminating in an edge surrounding the outlet tube, and spacedtherefrom and disposed below the normal liquid-level, the laterallyextendingportion of said plate having apertures therein for the flow ofoil from the lower. portion of the sump into the air passageway.

4. An air cleaner comprising, a lower casing' member having an outlettube extending through its'bottom and adapted toreceive a quantity ofoil with its lower portion constituting an oil sump, an upper casingmember carrying a filtering body telescoped into the lower casing memberin spaced relation to form an annular air 'inlet for the passage of airdownwardly toward the sump and ,for the passage of air upwardly throughthefile,

tering medium, the upper casing member being in connection in its upperportion with the outlet tube, the filtering medium being above the oillevel in the sump, and a plate surrounding the outlet tube having anouter laterally extending portion submerged in the oil and anintermediate upwardly rising wall portion,'the upper end of which makessubstantial contact with the lower part of the filter, the said portionand rising wall defining an air passageway to the filtering body and therising wall portiondefining a quiescent zone inwardly thereof,.the innerportion of said plate extending angularly. inwardly and downwardly andterminating in an edge surrounding the outlet tube and spaced therefromand disposed below the normal liquid level, the laterally extendingportion of said plate having apertures therein for the-flow of oil fromthe lower portion of the sump into the air passageway, said plate havingone or more vent. apertures therein substantially at the top of therising wall portion.

5." An air cleaner comprising, a lower casing member having an outlettube extending through its bottom and adapted to receive a quantity ofoil with its lower portion constituting an oil sump, an upper casingmember carrying a filtering body telescoped into the lower casing memberin spaced relation to form an annular, air inlet for the passage of airdownwardly toward the sump and for the passage of air upwardly throughthe fil e i g and spaced therefrom and disposed below the noring a lowerwall'of scalloped or corrugated form,

3 medium, the upper casing member being connected in its upper portionto the outlet tube, the filtering body being above the oil level in thesump, and a plate surrounding the outlet tube having an outer laterallyextending. portion sub-- 5 merged in the oil and an intermediateupwardly rising wall portion, the upper end of which makes substantialcontact with the lower part of the filter, the said portion and risingwall defining an air passageway to the filtering body and the risingwall portion defining a quiescent zone inwardly thereof, the innerportion of said plate extend-' ing angularly inwardly and downwardly andterminating in an edge' surrounding the outlet tube 15 mal liquid level,the laterally extending portion of said plate having apertures thereinfor the flow of oil from the lower portion of the sump into the airpassageway, said upper casing member hav- 2 portions of whichsubstantially seal with the oil 0 at normal level and portions of whichprovide constantly open air passageways connecting the annular air inletto the space below the filtering body- 6. 'In an air cleaner, a lowerupwardly opening casing member adapted to receive oil and constitutingan oil sump, an outlet tube extending through the bottom of the member,an upper casing member having inner and outer walls, a filteringbody-positioned between the walls, the said outer wall telescoping intoand in spaced relation with the lower casing member to provide an airpassageway downwardly toward the sump, the outlet tube connecting intothe upper casing mem- 5 her above the filtering body, means for guidingair from the inlet passageway upwardly toward the filtering body andlocated in part below the normal oil level in the sump, said meansdirecting the air to a portion only of the filtering body and defining aquiescent zone between thesump and another portion of the filtering bodyfor the flow ofoil from the filtering body back to the sump, meansunderlying and supporting the filtering body and forming, in conjunctionwith the outer wall of the upper casing, a channel formation, said uppercasing member having apertures substantially in the channel formationfor the flow of oil from the filtering body back into 'theair stream.

'1. An air cleaner for internal combustion engines comprising, a lowercasing member with a substantially centrally disposed outlettubeextending throughv the bottom thereof. said member being adapted toreceive a quantity of oil and its lower portion constituting an oilsump, an upper member telescoping into the lower member in spacedrelation to form an annular air inlet passageway, a filtering medium inthe upper portion located substantially entirely above the oil, theoutlet tube connecting into the upper portion above the filteringmedium, said upper member having an annular wall extending downwardlyinto the' lowermember, the lower edge of said 7 wall being substantiallyof scalloped or corrugated c5 formation, with the ridges thereofsubstantially sealing with the oil when the same is at its normal level,and with furrows providing constantly open air passageways for thepassage of air at low engine speeds, said scalloped formation havingapertures therein substantially at the ridges for the flow of oildownwardly therethrough from the portion of the filtering'medium lyingthereabove,

' JAMEBCLARK EVANS. I

